How to Volunteer at an Animal Shelter

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When you think of volunteering at an animal shelter, you might think of walking dogs or brushing cats. However, there are many additional jobs available! Shelters usually need volunteers for office work, adoption events, cleaning dishes and food bowls, housekeeping, special events, such as adoption programs or demonstrations, fostering animals, and many more important responsibilities. Before you do any volunteering, you need to prepare yourself to work hard, devote your time, and potentially deal with animals that are ill or abused.

Method 1
Method 1 of 3:

Applying to Volunteer

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  1. The organization may have a contact person or "volunteer coordinator" who can help you get involved at their facility. Visit a shelter's website, and check for any information that is listed for volunteers. Some shelters will not offer much information on their websites, and some may not have websites at all.
    • Volunteers that are currently involved or were involved in the past can also share a lot of useful information.
    • Look online for shelters near your home or office. Consider the distance from your home, the type of animal, and the needs of a given shelter. If two animal shelters are right next to each other, but one of them is in more urgent need of volunteers: it may be best to choose that shelter.
    • Find out what manners, tools and processes are used in a given shelter, what their yards and setups look like, how animals are socialized and interacted with, and so on.
  2. Call, visit their website, or visit the shelter in person. See what the atmosphere is like, and observe how healthy and happy the animals seem to be. If you still think that this is the right place for you, ask for an application to be a volunteer. Most shelters will give you a form to fill out, along with a list of basic guidelines.
    • Don't be shy! Ask the staff any questions you have about volunteering.
    • If possible, talk directly to the owner or an employee of the shelter. An employee or current volunteer will usually reach out to the owner for you if he/she isn't available when you're around.
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  3. This may be a physical form, or it may be online. You may need to provide a birth certificate and photo ID. Fill out the application carefully and truthfully, and make sure that all of your information is correct.
    • You may have to complete a criminal background check. Shelters want to make sure that their volunteers are trustworthy people.
    • Look for a phone number if you can't find an application. Call the shelter and ask whether they are looking for volunteers. Alternately: simply visit the shelter in person when you have a free afternoon.
  4. Different shelters have different requirements, which often depend on the specific work that you'll be doing. If you want to directly handle animals, it helps to have prior experience with animals. As a general rule, you must: [1]
    • Be at least 16 (sometimes 18) years of age. If you are under that age, some shelters run family volunteer programs where parents and children come in to work together. Check in with several shelters. If you aren't old enough to volunteer at one center, you might be old enough to volunteer at another.
    • Be able to commit to a long-term volunteer position. Some shelters require a commitment as long as a year, so that they know it's worth their time to train you. Many shelters require a minimum of one regularly-scheduled shift every other week. Shifts may run for two hours or longer, depending on how much work needs to be done.
    • Be able to fulfill the physical duties. Most volunteer roles require that you are able to stand or walk for up to 3 hours. You should be able to lift 20 or more pounds.
    • Be able to hear, see, and interpret animal behavior and body language. This is most important if you'll be working directly with animals.
    • Be able to keep a positive attitude. It can be hard to emotionally handle a stressful workplace.
  5. Many shelters have a training session for new volunteers before they can officially start. This usually includes a tour of the facility, instructions on the jobs you will be doing, meeting staff, etc. Depending on the shelter, you might have to RSVP for a group training session that they hold once a month. Other shelters will train you whenever you can be available. Ask the shelter staff for more information. [2]
    • Do anything else that the shelter says you need to do before starting. For example, you may need to vaccinate yourself against common animal-transmitted diseases.
  6. Perhaps you can volunteer after work or school, or on weekends in the mornings or afternoons. The owner of the shelter will usually tell you what you can do at the certain scheduled time: bathing the animals, socializing them, feeding them, etc. Some shelters have designated "shifts" for volunteers, whereas others just let helpers drop in when they have time. Some shelters only allow a certain amount of volunteers at a time. Ask the staff which days and time slots are available and find one that fits in with your schedule.
  7. Don't be discouraged if the owner tells you that s/he doesn't need any volunteers at the moment. Don't give up if there isn't an available time slot that works for you. Ask the shelter to put you on a volunteer waiting list. Once you're on this list, they may call you and ask you to help out once something opens up.
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Method 2
Method 2 of 3:

Finding the Right Shelter

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  1. Most shelters take in dogs and cats, but you may be hard-pressed to find a center that deals with more exotic pets. You may be able to choose between working with dogs and cats, or you may be asked to deal with both. Bear in mind that you may not even be allowed to work with the animals at first. You often need to work at the shelter for a while before you can handle animals directly.
  2. Depending on the shelter, you may be assigned to a specific job, or you may perform various tasks as need arises. You may be required to complete a certain number of hours of support tasks before you are allowed to work directly with animals. Laundry, dish-washing, floor-mopping, and office work are often necessary to keep a shelter running smoothly. [3]
    • Ask about volunteer programs on- and off-site. Most shelters need people to help in the facility: walking dogs, handling cats, and grooming various animals. However, many shelters also have off-site adoption events or fundraisers with which you might be able to help.
    • If you have any special skills that relate to shelter work: tell the shelter! Volunteers can provide website support, offer legal aid, donate medical services, photograph adoptable animals for the adoption websites, or even create and donate original art for sale to benefit the shelter.
  3. Most volunteer opportunities occur during a shelter's open hours, although you might also be asked to care for animals and do maintenance work during the off-hours. Shelters are usually open seven days a week, with slightly fewer hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
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Method 3
Method 3 of 3:

Being a Volunteer

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  1. You may need to provide your own lunch. Dress appropriately for the weather if you'll be working outdoors. Consider bringing tennis shoes or rubber boots, depending upon your chores. You shouldn't wear shiny jewelry or baubles, because you don't want the animals taking them, breaking them, or fighting you for them. It's also a good idea to bring bandages, peroxide, and disinfectant cream.
  2. Some people believe that animals in shelters are unwanted or undesirable in some way. One of the most beneficial things you can do is to share the positive facts about your shelter with people, especially those who have never adopted a pet before. By helping to change the mindset of the public, you can help more animals find their "forever homes."
  3. If you can't afford to spend much time volunteering at a shelter, you can still help out by donating money and animal-care items. Shelters need food, toys, bedding, and grooming items for each of the animals that come into their care. Most shelters will be happy to accept donations of used items. Ask for a list of things that they need. Some of these items may include: [4]
    • Pet food, pet treats, feeding items, and bowls.
    • Blankets, towels, or padding or bedding for cages. Try going to a local hotel and asking them for their stained linens.
    • Disinfectants, grooming items, and newspaper for puppy training and cleaning.
    • Toys, scratching posts, balls, and toys.
  4. When you foster an animal, you are committing to take it into your home and to care for it. It is your job to help it get healthy and socialized before it is placed for adoption. Make sure that you have room for a temporary dog or cat in your home, and ask yourself whether you have the energy to care for this animal. If so, ask whether the shelter has a foster program. This is a big responsibility, but it can be deeply rewarding. [5]
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    Can I volunteer at age 11?
    Community Answer
    Try talking to them and reaching a compromise. They will listen to what you have to say.
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  • Question
    Can I still volunteer at an animal shelter if I'm in 6th grade?
    Community Answer
    It depends on the shelter's terms, but some may allow it.
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  • Question
    Do you have to be there every day?
    Community Answer
    No. Volunteer work is not like a job. You do it when you want to, as long as it is a time during which they need or allow volunteers. Some places may require you to plan ahead and let them know when you will be coming. In that case, make sure you choose a day and time when you will be available and stick to the plan. Some places may require you to come a minimum of one day a week, but you still usually get to choose the day.
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      Tips

      • Don't be afraid! Most animals are scared and missing their families and just need someone to love them. Open up your heart and show the neglected animals a little love, and they'll open up to you in turn.
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      • Volunteers are greatly appreciated! If you go in, prepare for your presence and the things you do around the shelter to be appreciated! There are so many things to do, and there is so little time to do them.
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      • Volunteering at a shelter is different than working at a shelter. If you volunteer, you are offering your time without being paid for it.
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      Warnings

      • Volunteering isn't all glamour and playing with cuddly puppies. It can often involve dirty work; such as picking up poop, cleaning kennels/cages, etc.
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      • Not all shelter animals are friendly. Staff should train you on how to handle animals that aren't well socialized. There may be some animals that volunteers are not allowed to handle.
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        Helpful 25 Not Helpful 1
      • Make sure you are feeling well before you volunteer. If you are sick, you may make animals sick. Some illnesses can pass between people and animals.
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      • If you are under the age of 16, many shelters will not allow you to volunteer. Some shelters do have programs for younger teens to volunteer with the animals, but these programs usually have fees.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://www.animalhumanesociety.org/volunteer
      2. ↑ https://www.cuhumane.org/Volunteer/InformationOpportunities.aspx
      3. ↑ https://www.rspca.org.uk/getinvolved/volunteer
      4. ↑ https://www.petmd.com/dog/centers/nutrition/how-to-help-animal-shelters-stay-open
      5. ↑ https://www.humanesociety.org/resources/ten-ways-help-your-local-shelter-or-rescue

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      To volunteer at an animal shelter, contact your local animal shelter or humane society and let them know you're interested in volunteering. You can also visit their website to see if there's a volunteer application available. Or, if you'd prefer, you can visit a local shelter in-person and fill out an application. There are all kinds of volunteer positions available at animal shelters, like animal walkers and handlers, groomers, photographers, and website support, so make sure you let the volunteer coordinator know if you have any special skills that would be helpful. To learn how to be a successful volunteer at an animal shelter, scroll down!

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        Nov 7, 2016

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